The National Geographic Society has announced National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, a collection of boutique hotels in extraordinary places around the world with a commitment to sustainability, authenticity, and excellence.
The initial collection—numbering 24 properties on six continents—further builds National Geographic’s travel portfolio, which includes National Geographic Expeditions, Traveler magazine, travel books, photography courses, and the @NatGeoTravel digital and photography community.
As part of a comprehensive vetting process, every lodge in the collection was judged on a strict basis. The design and character of the property are unique and authentic, and the property provides guests with a sense of place by celebrating the surrounding landscape and cultural heritage. The property demonstrates a commitment to conservation and green operations, actively supports the protection of cultural heritage, and provides tangible benefits to local communities.
“By creating this carefully curated group of hotels, lodges, and retreats that meet internationally recognized sustainable tourism criteria while providing top-notch guest experiences, National Geographic opens a new chapter in the power of travel to protect our planet,” says Costas Christ, a sustainable tourism expert and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler magazine, who coordinated an international team to inspect each of the properties. “Travelers can feel confident when they stay in one of these lodges that they are helping to safeguard cultural and natural treasures in some of the world’s most incredible places.”
The Unique Lodges collection ranges from thatched bungalows in the coastal jungles of Costa Rica’s pristine Osa Peninsula to luxury tented suites overlooking Uluru in the Australian outback. All prioritize locally sourced food and provide economic and social benefits to the local community.
National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World charter members are:
Fogo Island Inn, Canada
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, South Africa
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Peru
Kapari Natural Resort, Greece
Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco
Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, Costa Rica
Lizard Island, Australia
Longitude 131°, Australia
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, Canada
Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica
Rosalie Bay Lodge, Dominica
Rubondo Island Camp, Tanzania
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, South Africa
Sayari Camp, Tanzania
Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysian Borneo
The Brando, French Polynesia
The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana, United States
Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia
Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, Chile
Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Chile
Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa
Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Bhutan
